Whyte Claims Ref Saved Parker From Joshua

Dillian Whyte feels the only reason Joseph Parker was able to get to the scorecards against Anthony Joshua, was because the referee bailed him out.

Whyte insists, that even though Giuseppe Quartarone was a controversial and potentially debilitating figure in the March showdown at Principality stadium, Parker should be grateful to the Italian for keeping Joshua at bay.

“Both of them fought completely different,” said Whyte, when asked about the Joshua-Parker fight.

“Parker was on the back foot, he’s usually a come-forward fighter, and Joshua wasn’t able to cut him off and close him down as much as he would have liked to, because they were both happy and content. Parker was happy and content to lose, Joshua was happy and content to pick up the win.

“Their styles didn’t really gel. The referee didn’t help the situation, but I believe the referee actually helped Joseph Parker out, because had he allowed them to fight on the inside, I reckon Joshua would have won by KO.”

With a win, Whyte or Parker could propel themselves into the next fight set for Joshua on April 13th at Wembley Stadium, where both men could get a win back against the world heavyweight champion.

“Well, a fight with me and Anthony Joshua is always a phone call away,” said Whyte. “It can happen next fight, two fights from now, who knows?

“But I’ve got bigger things to focus on right now and it’s Joseph Parker, so I’m focusing on that. After the 29th of July, I’ll start screaming from the roof about a fight. But now I’ve got Joseph Parker to focus on.

“It’s a big challenge, so I’m completely focusing on cutting him down, and hacking him to bits on the night.”